The BSN to MSN degree is a promising option for students who want to pursue a leadership role in nursing or engage in a specific area of study. Many universities offer online tracks for these students that allow them to earn a master’s degree quickly. As with any degree, accreditation is important to validate your education; schools that have been accredited are recognized as meeting the standards set forth for nursing training and education in this country.

Licensure is imperative to practice and can often vary by state; however, nearly half the states in the U.S. have moved to a multistate license that allows nurses the ability to practice in their home state as well as others that are a part of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). It is important to review and understand the licensing guidelines for the state in which you wish to practice.

BSN to MSN Degree Programs

While many students might be tempted to continue working as Registered Nurses, employment of RNs will not grow at the same rate in every industry:

Employment is expected to grow more slowly in hospitals than in most other health care industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; and although the intensity of nursing care is likely to increase, requiring more nurses per patient, the number of inpatients is not likely to grow. Patients are being discharged earlier, and more procedures are being done on an outpatient basis.

At the same time, qualified applicants to nursing schools are being turned away because of a shortage of nursing faculty. The need for nursing faculty will only increase as many instructors near retirement. Degree requirements for nurse educators vary by state, but in order to teach at the baccalaureate level or higher, educators are required to hold at least a master’s degree or doctoral degree.

Generally, RNs with at least a bachelor’s degree will have better job prospects than those without. An MSN can increase a student’s job prospects, as all four advanced practice specialties will be in high demand, particularly in medically underserved areas such as inner cities and rural areas.

• Clinical nurse specialists (CNS)
• Nurse practitioners (NP)
• Nurse-midwives
• Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA)

BSN to MSN options are designed to put leaders into the nursing community as soon as possible after graduation to fill nursing shortages. A graduate with an MSN also can fill slots as nurse educators, specialists in informatics, managers, public health and geriatrics specialists, or go on to earn a doctoral degree.

Some schools include the MSN portion of the degree in the final year or two of a BSN to MSN program, offering an accelerated way to earn those degrees; however, some colleges may require that the student earn the BSN in a specialty area and receive an RN license before continuing the MSN portion.

RN Licensure

Specific application requirements for any BSN to MSN program vary depending on the school. Schools often ask for students finish the BSN portion of an accredited program with a GPA of 3.0 or above and to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to earn RN licensure before continuing with MSN courses.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), a not-for-profit organization, provides a process through which state boards of nursing act and counsel together on matters of common interest and concern affecting the public health, safety and welfare, including the development of licensing examinations in nursing. NCSBN develops the (NCLEX-RN) that is used by boards of nursing to assist in making licensure decisions.

Nursing license requirements vary by state; each state board is responsible for evaluating nursing license applications, for administering the licensure exams, and for making sure that nurses operate according to the ethical and legal guidelines that they establish in accordance with the federal government.

As an applicant, your responsibility for RN licensure is to:

• Be a graduate or eligible for graduation from a member board approved RN pre-licensure program.
• Successfully complete the NCLEX-RN exam, which can be taken in any jurisdiction.

The licensure process determines if the applicant has the necessary skills to safely perform a specified scope of practice.

Nurse Licensure Compact

Students may be interested in learning more about the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC). The NLC allows nurses to have one multistate license with the ability to practice in both their home state and other party states. This license can allow you to work in multiple states without taking separate licensing exams.

• Graduates applying for a license who legally reside in a compact state can only apply to their home state board of nursing.
• The NLC considers proof of residency: obtaining a driver’s license, voting/registering to vote or filing federal taxes with an address in that state.
• As long as you maintain that home state as your declared primary state of residency and remain in good standing, you may practice in other compact states.
• Use the state board of nursing application for licensure (exam, endorsement, etc.), as found on the board’s web site.

Accreditation for Nursing Programs

Approval by a state board of nursing does not mean that a school is accredited by a national accrediting organization; however, in general, every accredited nursing school is also approved by its state board of nursing. The U.S. Department of Education approves agencies that accredit health care programs, including nursing degrees, and this accreditation provides a way for nursing students to participate in federally funded and state entitlement programs.

Two national organizations accredit nursing education programs:

• The National League of Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) accredits nursing education programs including practical nursing, diploma, associate, baccalaureate, and higher degrees, including those offered via distance education.
• The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) accredits nursing education programs in the United States at the baccalaureate and graduate degree levels, including those programs offering distance education.

Separate accrediting bodies exist for advanced practice nursing fields, including nurse anesthetist and nurse-midwife programs:

• The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) accredits nurse anesthesia programs at the post master’s certificate, master’s, or doctoral degree levels, including programs offering distance education.
• Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACNM [PDF]) offers accreditation and pre-accreditation of basic certificate, basic graduate nurse-midwifery, direct entry midwifery, and pre-certification nurse-midwifery education programs. This commission also provides accreditation and pre-accreditation of freestanding institutions of midwifery education that may offer other related health care programs to include nurse practitioner programs, and including those institutions and programs that offer distance education.
• Midwifery Education Accreditation Council (MEAC) offers the accreditation and pre-accreditation throughout the United States of direct-entry midwifery educational institutions and programs conferring degrees and certificates, including the accreditation of such programs offered through distance education.

Most nursing school accreditation organizations use the same standards and criteria to accredit each nursing program type. This accreditation is granted for specific periods of time that differ between individual schools and programs. To safeguard your education, check with the nursing school or the accrediting body to determine the length of time for which the school is accredited.

The BSN to MSN Path

If you want to pursue a graduate degree in less time than it might take for you to complete two separate degrees, the BSN to MSN program may be a good option for you. Before you embark on this degree program, you might:

• Make sure the school you want to attend is accredited by an organization approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Think about the location of the school in terms of your RN license. If the school is not located in a state where you want to eventually reside, you may need to reapply for a license once you graduate — even if that license is in an NLC compact state.
• Be prepared to pick a specialty such as CNS, NP or nurse-midwife sooner than you might have had you gone the traditional BSN route to a graduate degree.

Nurse leaders are in high demand nationwide, and an advanced degree means more responsibilities as well as a higher salary.

These schools offer fully accredited programs that can take someone with a BSN to an MSN and beyond, which leads to more opportunities to specialize in the kind of work you love and earn a better paycheck while you do it. If you’re ready to get started, click some of the links below to learn more about their specific course offerings.

BSN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administrator MSN in Nurse Educator MSN in Nurse Informatics RN to MSN	Kaplan University — The Kaplan School of Nursing offers a variety of graduate degree programs for registered nurses looking to advance their careers into special areas of interest. In addition to their general BSN to MSN program, Kaplan also offers MSN degrees with concentrations in nurse administration, nurse education, and nursing informatics. For registered nurses who have not yet completed their bachelor's degrees, Kaplan also offers an RN to MSN program.
BSN to MSN (General) MSN in Leadership & Mgmt MSN in Nursing Informatics MSN in Nurse Education	Walden University — In addition to its general BSN to MSN track, Walden offers a specialty MSN degree programs in leadership & management, nursing informatics, and nurse education. Available to RNs with a BSN, ADN, or nursing diploma, Walden's MSN programs are designed to prepare current nurses for new opportunities in their field by giving them the tools and skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
BSN to MSN MSN in Health Education MSN in Informatics MSN in Health Administration MSN in Healthcare Mgmt	University of Phoenix — The University of Phoenix is America's largest accredited online university. Their School of Nursing offers several different online BSN to MSN degrees, including degree programs with concentrations in healthcare education, health informatics, healthcare administration, and healthcare management. These graduate-level programs of study are available to all registered nurses (RNs) who have completed their bachelor's degree and have a minimum of three years working experience.
Dual Degree: MBA & MSN MSN in Nursing Education MSN in Nursing Leadership	Grand Canyon University — A highly-rated Christian school based in Arizona, Grand Canyon University's School of Nursing offers multiple master's degree-level nursing programs, including a dual MSN and MBA degree for business-oriented students and MSN degrees with concentrations in nursing education and nursing leadership.
MSN in Adult Nursing MSN in CNS/Nurse Educator More...	University of Cincinnati — The University of Cincinnati offers online BSN to MSN programs with numerous specializations, including adult nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and nurse educator, family nurse practitioner, nurse administrator, nurse midwifery, psychiatric nursing, and women's health specialist. Students of these programs are required first to be registered nurses holding BSN degrees.
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